Balochistan Completes Landmark Educational Reform Project in Collaboration with AKU-EB

In a significant move to improve educational standards and transparency in Balochistan, the Balochistan Assessment and Examination Commission (BAEC), in collaboration with the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB), has successfully completed a transformative educational project. This initiative was implemented under the Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project (BHCIP), funded by the World Bank and executed by the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Education Department, Government of Balochistan.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Provincial Minister for Education, Ms. Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani, emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the provincial government has prioritized education. She noted that several long-delayed development projects dating back to 2008 were completed within the current fiscal year, thousands of closed schools were reactivated, and contract teachers were recruited with a strict adherence to merit.

She added that the government’s focus goes beyond infrastructure and enrollment, aiming instead at achieving genuine learning outcomes. Ms. Durrani extended her gratitude to the Aga Khan University and the World Bank for their technical and financial support and affirmed her commitment to continued partnerships for the advancement of education and other key sectors in the province.

Member of the Provincial Assembly and National Party leader, Mir Rehmat Saleh Baloch, lauded the project’s achievements and called for better coordination between education and health departments. He stressed the need for targeted funding in terrorism-affected districts and emphasized accountability in staffing and the importance of addressing missing facilities in schools based on need assessments.

Director of BAEC, Mir Nizam Mengal, stated that the project marked the beginning of a stronger professional identity for BAEC. He acknowledged the expertise provided by AKU-EB, particularly in areas such as pre-assessment planning, effective use of Bloom’s Taxonomy, item development and review, scientific sampling, assessment implementation, data analysis, and stakeholder reporting.

The ceremony was attended by Special Secretary of the School Education Department, Abdul Salam Achakzai, Director of Schools Muhammad Akhtar Khetran, Vice Provost of Aga Khan University Dr. Anjum Halai, Director of AKU-EB Hanif Sharif, BHCIP Project Specialist Zulfiqar Khan, and a large number of education experts and stakeholders.

The project focused on establishing a modern, scientific, and locally relevant examination system to better evaluate student performance. It included a comprehensive training program for teachers and exam staff, covering assessment design, analysis, and practical application. Key outcomes included the development of assessment frameworks and background questionnaires for grades IV and VIII, creation of a question bank, pilot testing in five districts, and the adoption of OMR sheets and advanced data processing software for enhanced efficiency and transparency.

Participants praised the project for its hands-on, practical approach, noting that it provided a real-world opportunity to understand key principles of assessment such as accuracy, transparency, and local relevance. The collaboration serves as a strong model for evidence-based and sustainable educational reform in Balochistan.

The event concluded with the distribution of shields and certificates to high-performing team members.